What the Serenity Symbol Stands For

The purpose of this article is to explain (my views) what the Serenity Symbol means. The Serenity Symbol is a neatly-fitting equilateral triangle within a circle. The three (3) sides of the triangle are signified as follows:

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Recovery

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Recovery stands for a commitment to a lifetime of recovery. We can either consider ourselves recovered and committed to sustaining this, or we can consider ourselves subject to recovery for the rest of our lives -- it’s a personal decision. The key is acknowledging the role of recovery and that it is/was recovery that you need/needed.

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It’s acknowledging the truth and facing previous denial.

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Unity

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Unity is acknowledging that you could not do this thing -- truly recover -- without the support of a group who you feel unified with. They help/helped you be accountable. This principle includes the term ‘fellowship’ in church circles. The value of unity of purpose is a very powerful concept.

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Service

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Service is the key to ongoing recovery because it replaces the destructive pattern with the strength of advocacy and humility. It is counter to the selfish way of the world that started all the problems in the first place. It is a beautiful, loving corrective designed to underpin both recovery and unity.

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Life Eternal – The Whole Circle of Life

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The circle encapsulating the triangle is significant. It wraps all of RECOVERY-UNITY-SERVICE together and presents it all, and all the benefits of new life, and any costs borne, into a whole. It’s all-encompassing. The circle not only signifies life, but eternal life -- life that continues on after death. It is a journey unbroken.

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Trinitarian Paradigm

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Being a Christian, I think the Serenity Symbol has particular theological significance with the sides of the triangle signifying the Holy Trinity: FATHER-SON-HOLY SPIRIT, and the circle signifying eternal life in the sense of both “now” (on receiving salvation, now) and the “time to come” or the ‘now/not yet’ Christological paradigm.

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Additionally, here’s a fresh Trinitarian spin on the three sides of the triangle. The Father is represented first by Recovery. It is Yahweh who is responsible for the redemptive plan. He made Recovery possible in the first place, through design. He designed Creation impeccably, even to our spoiling it, and requiring a way back. Recovery is a very human need that was ‘designed in’ by such a loving, intelligent God.

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Unity is represented by the Son. Jesus unifies us to the Father -- we found a way back to him, but only through Christ is it possible (John 14:6). Christ is the Church. The Church’s purpose is unification of humankind and the whole Creation under the head of Christ.

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Lastly, the Holy Spirit enables Service. Such an unhuman thing is selfless service done in humility and kindness -- without the Helper or Encourager (Greek phonetic: paraklaitos) it is impossible for us to do it with the right heart or intention. Jesus makes it clear in John 14-16 that both the Father and he are involved with the sending (provision) of the Holy Spirit. This means all the power and blessing of God is given us in our serving others, via the Holy Spirit.

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It is only when we fully receive the resurrection life of God that we benefit with the ability to recover, knowing our powerlessness without him. Likewise, when we decide to rely also on the wise counsel and help of others through unity, we draw on God’s special power through our own weakness. The very weakness in us that requires the unity of brother and sisterhood provides massive strength to recover. Finally, it is when we truly serve we ‘feel’ like God does. In choosing to love freely and give ourselves away to help -- not because we have to but because we want to -- we mimic God, who designed and implemented Creation motivated by love.

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Copyright © 2008, Steven John Wickham. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.